Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-05-14
A SAILORS SUCCESSFUL Russ.
The Cook In u Fit-was Ia Nan sham
mings-His Discharge.

~ming?-His Discharge.
During the passage "A circumstance oc-
CURED which will illustrate to the reader
the extreme TO which some men will re-
sort in order TO secure a discharge from
naval service. One bright Sunday morn
ing our ship, under steam and easy sail,
was forging ahead and making from
seven Ia eight knots with a fair wind.
The crew were assembled at quarters and
the ceremony of inspection having been
performed the retreat was sounded and
the men dismissed from their stations.
Suddenly a blood curdling shrek was
heard. and the assistant ships cook fell
to the deck writing in agony and froth-
ing al the mouth. The surgeon followed
by his assistants hurriedly repaired Ia the
SPOT, and the cook was ordered In lie at
once conveyed Ia the sick bay or hospital.
Here the surgeon worked for hours,
lancing the mans temples. applying
leechrS and performing other surgical
operations deemed Necessary in the pres
ent ease.
Strange To relate. the cook was found
to have cniirrly lost his speech, and.
although able 10 hear. could make no
response 10 the inquiries Of the surgeon
As 10 the state Of his feelings. Lee. the
cook. was a native of New York. and
one Of the most determined looking men
| ever remember to have met. He was
now kindly cared for by Lieut.. De Long,
who, at his WI expense. furnished the
cook with meals from the ward room
mess. The latter was furnished with a
slate and pencil and assigned a position
on the starbglrd side of the main deck.
where h. was constantly in view Of the
ships officers. many of whom openly de-
clarcd their belief that the man was
shamming. All manner of tests were
applied in the latter's case. such as firing
a pistol brhind his ear, striking him a
violent blow without p%rovocatiOn, and
similar performances INDUCED in for the
purpose Of causing Lee to, in an un-
guarded moment, betray the fact that he
was >hamming. But the fellow remained
silent Throughout. and would frequently
he detected weeping owe lis misfortune.
Finally he begged the doctor TO per-
l'iui any bIhldu'l lht iit''l nnl-t'
deem proper in order To- restore the ar
ans Of speech. which request more than
W confirmed the surgeon in his belief
that the man was the victim of some
hatiling cerebral disorder. and t~rcpanning
was suggested. The ship. however. had
by thi, time sighted Key West light, and
il was decided to postpone the operation
until after the vessel had come toanchor.
Arriving nj Key West. il was found that
the Colorado WIS humcward hound. and.
after undergoing a thorough medical
examination. Lac was condemned and
sent north. For Il period nf six months
the fellow was never heard tn utter a
syllable. and eventually procured his dis
charge.
The Brooklyn was now ordered to re-
pair 10 Norfolk. in order Ia reiit for a
cruiN,, and my request for discharge
being granted. ! entered the cavalry SER
vice and in due time reached II. Louis.
One Of the first men | encountered was
the cook Lee. who had enlisted at Boston
some months previous. DUMB No more
than ] am. The fellow simply desired to
leave the navy. and. not wishing TO
desert. had chewed a piece Of soap on the
Sunday morning in question and pur-
posely sllrieked in order TO attract atten-
ton as be- fell to the deck. He subse-
quently explained to me that he would
not for the world attempt a repetition Of
the fraud, having been rendered well
nigh insane by his effort to remain awake
in order 10 prevent bcing surprised into
speaking Boston COMMERCIAL Bulletin.